As an Ealing resident I would like to invite responses to some of the unanswered questions and comments raised on this thread and raise a few new ones:1) “It wasn't so long ago that certain areas within Ealing, including Acton and Southall I think, were each awarded a £20K bonus by the Council for percentage improvements achieved in recycling. I wonder if anyone can expand on this and tell us how this money was spent...?”2) “The council’s contractor has a plan to get a full fleet of 15 kerbsiders in operation by 11th June.” Was this date agreed at the time the contract was awarded or did it come about later / as a result of public outcry? Has this target been met?3) “Apparently Enterprise's contract gives them a penalty-free 3 months to get their act together.” Did this clause specifically cover the provision of kerbsiders? When was the council aware that kerbsiders would not be available for the start of the contract? (ie before or after the contract was awarded). Was this clause added by the contractor in the original contract as a result of late / short timings laid down by Ealing Council procurement team? Did the council discuss timings of the start of the service, and specifically the availability of kerbsiders, with all the shortlisted contractors? And did this inform the decision on which contractor to go with? 4) Is it the contractor, or the council, or both, that has borne cost of the interim vehicles, and interim recycling measures in Kent? And was this agreed before the contract was awarded or later?5) What provision (if any) did the council make for expenses associated with implementing and introducing changes in collection practices (i.e. cost of communications, PR, extra fly-tipping, extra enquiry handling, interim vehicles/recycling provision, etc.)? Were these costs taken into account in the publically announced saving figure of £3M? And, assuming provision was made, does the council expect to be within or over-budget in respect of this? 6) Were the costs/timings for maintaining / transferring / introducing the collections database to the new contractor taken account of at the outset? Were these met or did they over-run? Else are these on track to be met? 7) Were the costs/timings for updating the council’s website taken account of at the outset? Were these met or did they over-run? Else are these on track to be met? 8)“The council could maybe have done more to establish that the company could meet its promises from the start, but we seem to be stuck with a race to the bottom in provision of these services.” Can the council give more information on this? In particular clarify what is meant by “stuck with a race to the bottom in provision of these services.”9) Can the council give assurances that lessons are being learned viz agreeing contract implementation timings and clauses, and that this will lead to improved procurement, legal and communications processes, in particular in respect of key contracts at the council?10) Are any aspects of this “fiasco” being referred to the council’s auditors?Brief, clear, factual answers would be good. Apologies if any of these questions have been answered elsewhere on this forum.
S Bradford ● 5207d